Flowmeter



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. MELAS ET AL FLOWMETER.

July 12, 1949.

Filed Sept. 12, 1944 Jul 12, 1949.

W. MELAS ETAL FLOWMETER s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1944 July 12, '1949. w, E s ET AL 2,475,630

I FLOWMETER Filed Sept. 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 12, 1949 FICE FLOWMETER William Melas -Philadelphia, Pa.,-and Win-field B. Heinz, Bound Brook, N. J.,- assignorsrby mesne assignments, to Penn Industrial Instrument Corporation, ,a corporation of Pennsylvania Application' September 12, 1944, Serial No. 553,700

v-5 Claims.

This. invention relatesto the type of flow metering :device in which a movable obstructionlat tainsa position establishing a condition of a variable orifice such that the position is indicativeof a fluid flow. A typical device of this type is the rotameter in which a float moving within a ta- .pered tube provides a variable area for the passage of fluid and. assumesa position which is dependent upon the rate of fluid flow. .The invention is particularly concerned with the provision of means for indicating remotely the :position of the obstruction, such as saidfioat, and, hence, for indicating remotely the rate of flow.

The general object of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic type of remote indicatorzcapable of accurately responding. to variations in the flow rate, and in particular independently of temperature changes.

This general object and other objects of the invention, particularly relating to details, will become apparent from the fol l lowing description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotameter with which are associated the remote indicating devices;

Figure 2 is-a perspective view partiallyinsection showing one form of float;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing an alternative form of float;

Figured is a diagram showing a remote indicating system and, in particular, showing a relay in section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic View showing an alternative relay arrangement for giving remote indications of the flow;

Figure 6 is a diagram of an alternative indicating system having certain advantages, particularly independence of a variable supply prestapered interior, which tube is of a type commonlyused in rotameters In the event it is desired that the rotameter readings should be observed municates 'through-a passage d i with the space locallyas well as remotely;- the tube'may be transparent and provided-with-suitable graduations against which thepoSi-tions of the float may be read to give indicationsof rate-of flow. The ends of the tube are engaged in fittings 4 and t provided. with the respective inlet and outlet openings "8 and "It, 1 through which "fluid may be admitted for flow through the tube 2. Suitable packinglland I4 is associated "with the fittings-4 and-6, the tube; and the-protectivecasing it, the construction in these respects being substantially conventional and requirin no de tailed description.

A float ZU'Whi'chmaybe of conventional exterior form is, as contrasted with prior types of rotameters, provided with a somewhat enlarged bore serving to receive thefixed cylindrical tube 22' of brass orother'non-magnetic material. The

float zfl has-a sliding-fiton this tube. In the intevided'with an accurately shaped bore which, in

this instance, is -tapered;being enlarged as indicated at its upperend-as compared with its lower end. L'he upperend'ofthis tubeisvented to the atmosphere at 26. It may-be positioned against a lower seat in the tubeZZ-by means of a light spring 21. vWithin the tube 24 is'a steel ball 28 1 which is arranged to follow the fioat by reason of the provision of magnets within the float as will be hereafter described in greater detail. Adjacent its lower end-the tube=24 is provided wi-tha seat'30 to catch-'theball-and retain it when the *float drops beyond its useful operating range,

For the purpose of providing remoteindications various-airconnections are present includ- -ingaconnection 32- in iree'communication with the space within the lower :end of the tube 22 which communicates with the lower end of the tapered tube 24. --Asupplyof air to thelower end of tube 24 --is effected through the connection 4!! leading to a capillary tube 42 which provides a substantial resistanceto flow of air and which delivers the air -into a space :3B-in:athimble 38 threaded into theiittingfl,"which'space 36 com- 34. The capillary tube42, it will benoted, is-located in the lower fitting 4. As aresult of this construction it is at all times substantially'at the temperature ofthe ball 28 and tube '24. Thus both flow resistances are subject to the same temperature variations and compensation is thereby effected.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the float may provided with a pair of magnets and 46 positioned with their opposite poles across the bore in the float from each other. These magnets will pick up the ball 28 as the float moves and will always maintain it in a position accurately corresponding to the position of the float.

An alternative arrangement of magnets is indicated in Figure 3 in which a float 20' is provided with arcuate magnets indicated at 48 and 50 with their like poles adjacent to each other, thereby providing a strong magnetic field extending across the bore and so carrying the ball 28 as the float moves. The ball is thus positioned so as to have varying clearance with the tapered walls of the tube 24 affording a variable resistance which is related to the float position and, therefore, to the rate of flow through the meter.

The remote indicating devices are essentially measuring devices for the resistance to flow which appears at the location of the ball 28. One system for accomplishing this is indicated in Figure 4.

In this figure, the matter to the left of the broken line represents diagrammatically the rotameter just described. Indicated therein in diagrammatic fashion are the ball 28, the tapered tube 24 in which the ball moves, and the connections 32, 34, 40, and 44, with the resistance afforded by the capillary tube 42 being indicated diagrammatically.

For the purpose of giving indications of the very slight changes in resistance to air flow produced at the ball 28, there is provided a relay indicated generally at 52. This is provided with a chamber 54 closed by a flexible diaphragm 58 and communicating with the connection 32. (The relay is also provided with an upper diaphragm chamber which, in the present application, is not used, though such a chamber is used in a modification later to be described.) The diaphragm 56, through an abutment 58, acts upon a pivoted arm 60 which, through a flexible wire 62, is arranged to move a connected pair of pistons 64 and 66 in a cylinder 68. The connection 49 is joined to an opening 10 which communicates with a port I2 slightly less in diameter than the length of the face of the piston 65 which has only a slight movement to open the port I2 to either the space above or the space below the piston. A port I4 joins the space between the pistons 64 and 66 with a passage I6 to which a supply of air under pressure is applied through the line I8. The space below the piston 66 is vented to the atmosphere through openings indicated at 80 and 82. A pressure gauge 84 is connected to the line 40 and serves to indicate a pressure P which will be a function of the resistance at the ball 28 and, consequently, of the rate of flow through the meter. The following will make clear the relationship of the pressure P to the resistance to air flow occasioned by the ball 28.

Suppose in the modification of Figure 4, the variable resistance R is provided by the ball, which resistance is a function of the position of the float. By the diaphragm action the pressure between resistances R0 and R is maintained constant at some value Po fixed by the downward pressure on the diaphragm 56. The action of the valve will be to provide a pressure P at the gauge, the relationship of which to R may be determined as follows:

The flow I of air through R and R0 is the same,

4 save for minute quantities entering the diaphragm chamber 54 which is of very small volume. Therefore:

Elimination of I gives:

R.) P-P0(1 the functional relationship between P and R. P is therefore a function of the float position and may be calibrated to give direct readings of fluid flow.

It will be noted that the supply pressure PS does not enter into the above so that it need not be regulated except to the extent that it must be greater than P.

It will be evident from the above that by a proper choice of R0 and Po the pressures appearing on the gauge may be very much magnified over the pressure existing at P0, which pressure will normally be quite small inasmuch as the rate of air flow is desirably kept low. While the pressure P0 is small, it can be made to act upon a quite large diaphragm at 56 so as to be capable of affording positive control of the valve.

While the pressure at P0 is held constant in the modification of Figure 4, that condition need not be established, but certain alternative forms of indicators of the resistance R may be provided, one of which is indicated diagrammatically in Figure 5 in which it will be understood that the connections indicated at 32' and 40 are connected to 32 and 40, respectively, at the position of the broken line. The connection 32' communicates with the chamber 86 closed by a diaphragm 88. An upper chamber 90 is closed by a diaphragm 92 which acts in opposition to the diaphragm 88 upon a lever 94, the construction being somewhat similar to that previously indicated at 52. The lever 94 operates joined pistons 96 and 98 in a cylinder I 00.

The air pressure supply line indicated at I02 feeds air to a constant pressure regulating valve I04 which delivers air at constant pressure to the line Hi6 which connects with the line 40'. A connection I08 from the line 40', I06 communicates with a port opening to the space between the pistons 96 and 98.

A port IIO having a diameter slightl less than the axial extent of the piston 96 is normally overlapped by this piston, movements of which in an upward direction furnish communication between the line I88 and the port H0 and movements of which in a downward direction vent the port I I0 to the atmosphere. A line II2 connected to the port H0 leads to a pressure gauge II l serving as an indicator for the system. Two resistances I I6 and H8 arranged in series serve to vent the line NZ to the atmosphere. Between these resistances there is the connection I 20 to the upper chamber 92.

In the case of the modification of Figure 5, R and R0 may be considered to be as before, pressure Po existing between R and R0 and applied to the lower diaphragm chamber. PS is the supply pressure, in this case regulated, since, as will be seen hereafter, it enters into the calibration of the system. Resistances R1 and R2 exist as indicated, as do also pressures P and P1. Let the flows through R0 and R and through R1 and R2 be, respectively, I1 and I2. Let F be a downward emspao Elimination .of '11,. 12, P0, and "P1" 'from "these The force F referred. to.:in:.the.zforegoingr may be applied .by aweight or :.spring,z andv it 1 .will. be evident that 'it serves to change.therangeotpressure P. corresponding to. a particular range .of variation of resistance R. :A further possibility of adjustment, it willlbe noted,1is involved-in the setting of the valve 404. to control :.a particular constant pressure PS. :If aspring is used to supply the force? there will be aslight deviation of actual conditionsr from :what is represented by the foregoing expression for 'P, thexieviation depending :upon thezdepartureof the actual relay from an ideal one :in which the pilot valve has no motion. Actually F will be variable with the motion of the pilot valve necessary to open the top or bottomotthe; port at IIO. Such motion may, however, be verysmall.

In the modification shown. in- Figure 5. the flow of air past the ball is nearly-constant, thelpressure drop across R beingxnegligibleyin. comparison with that across R0.

As will be seen from the foregoing examples, a remote indication of the :position 0f: thefloat of the rotameter is madepossible. "The particular lines connected to a remote position are,-of course, subject of variation. If the rela cof either type is located remote from the meter, two lines may be run to the relay and. the. pressure gauge located thereat. On the other hand; the pressure gauge may be at a remote position with the r0- tameter and relay adjacent each-other. It'will be evident that essentiallywhat is involved-isia very substantial magnification of the pressure drop which existsacross the ball. By'magnification, it is not meant that this magnification is linear, but rather that-alargepressure difference can be made to appeanat ;a gaugeand will be a function of the resistance presented at:.:the ball 28.

-While the description has .indicatedthe ultimate application of the magnified pressure to a pressure gauge, it will be evident that the pressure produced by thesystem may be utilized for control purposes in conventional fashions, controlling, for examplaflavalve regulating the how which takes placethroughrthe rotameter with the objective of main-tainingsuch flow constant, or, alternatively, such pressure-maybe applied for controlling the application efs-heat to aSYS- tem which also involves .flowzand wherei-na quantity of heat added is some function of a. rate --of flow. Still another application wouldibe the control of some pressure in accordance with a rate of flow. It will thus .beevident that theinvention is of very broad applicability.

.It will also be noted. that: thiS.il'iVBl1lJiOn is not limited to a rota-meter whichhas -beenndescribed merely by way of -a typical application-citric invention to which it is 'very we'll adapted. -Any movable obstruc'tiomor element capable-of car stantially fixed force applied to it at.l.42.

ryingnairmemberzz'suchxaas::the malhflccould ihav itsxposition indicated by-theasmeans :described. Invarious iapplicationsrthesball maysbe-rreplaced by, a rod moving vinra tapenedror iuniiormediameter tube, asat 300 in Figurezllzon at 362.=inwFigure 9, respectively. ,Thesole limitation :on structural possibilities .is .that:.the-.-control of-.-the variableresistance should noteentaileexecution of any such forcelaswill. react ion :a. :float-or .other moving member i to displace -it=1 to ta substantial degree .f romuapposition lwhicha'it- 'would normally assume under the. actlon-of..'fluid flow. By this there.is,..-of .courseameant a variable iorce. .The .weightofa ball vsuchtaszfli:rnayl be merely consideredas part oftthe-weightoftthe float. By the use ofv an amplifying relamsystem of the type described the forces v exerted. by :air flow, may ,be icept so low as not to .become-ldisturbina iacors.

It was remarkedabove ithatthasupply pressure does .not enterinto the operationof ,thBzl'IlOdificationin Figure 4 and this'istrue provided the valve is .wellflbalance'd .and the variations In supply pressure/are .notltoo., great. causing .a degree of unbalance. Inor'der' to avoid any possible disturbing efiectsfdue'to supply pressure fluctuations and additionallyito secure .other advantages such vas further. elimination of friction, it is desirable under some circumstances toprovide-a more elaborate responsive .device suchas one of those illustrated inFlgures'f6 .and 7.

Referring first totl ligurei'ii there. is indicated at I30 a tapered tubein whichtmoves a ball I32 to provide a movable obstruction, givingrise to a variable resistance. to the "flowof air. As .indicated above thisis merely .anexampleof a variable resistance member which may'takeother forms. The elements illustratedlinEigure 6v roduce apressure responsive to'lthe value of the resistanceRnappearingat I32. A,supply line I34 feeds air to the system. A resistance I36 is interposed between the. supplyclline'. andan orifice or. nozzle I38 'closely'ladjacent .to which is an end of alever 'Huhaving ,an adjustable sub- A chamber I 44 closedgbya diaphragm, I46 isconnected to thellower endeo'f the tube I3ll..at I48. This diaphragmlis mechanicallyconnected. to the lever I40. AlineQIEmfr-omQthenozzle l38ccommunicates with a chamber I52 .closedby a large diaphragm I 54 and :a smaller diaphragm I56 as indicated, both of wln'ch are mechanically connected to the lever I40. T'EhespacelIfiB above the diaphragm I5 is open to the atmosphere. A line I60 leads from the nozzle I36.to a chamber I62 provided with a largenpperldiaphragm I64 and a smaller diaphragm I66, both of whichware .connected to .a lever I68 which controls valve I10 provided with seats fina valvehousing 112. This valve is merely diagrammed inFigure 6 and may take either the form of a valve. member moving between the seats as indicated or of a slide valve of .one of the types previouslydescribed. The operation of this pilotvalve .isto control. the pressure in an outletline' I16,there.being a connection between the valvecas'ing and the source of air at 114. "The outputofthe pilot valve is connected through .line; I18 .andlvariable resistance I with the lowersendof tube 130. The resistance I80 may be ofthe'type described in connection with Figure 1 ,built into a rotameter or other'flow meter.

"Two fixed-resistances I82 and I84.-are provided between I16 and the atmo'sphere. The "junction between them is'conneeted'to afchamber I 88,t-he

lower wall of which is provided by the diaphragm I64 previously described. Chamber I88 is connected through a passage I98 and an adjustable resistor I92 with a chamber I94 closed by a diaphragm I96 connected to the lever I68. The upper side of diaphragm I96 is open to the atmosphere. A spring I98 may be adjusted to provide a suitable force on the lever I'68. A gauge 288 is connected to I16 to give pressure indications corresponding to the position of the obstruction I32. This gauge may be calibrated directly in terms of the flow through the meter.

Pressures and resistances Po, R and R corresponding to those of Figure 4 are designated by the same reference characters and the outlet pressure P is related to the constant pressure P1 and to the resistances R and R0 in the identical fashion given above forthe relation of P to P0 in the modification of Figure 4. The pressure P1 is a constant function of the forces F1 and F2 applied to the levers. Under equilibrium conditions P0 is also constant as shown below.

Under conditions of a change of resistance R transient relations are set up which involve a floating action. Assume, for example, an increase in the resistance R. The pressure Po immediately rises and the baffle provided by the lever I48 moves slightly away from the nozzle I38 with consequent decrease of the nozzle pressure P1.

I52 equalizes the increase of pressure P0 with the result that the nozzle pressure always changes by an amount which is directly proportional to the change in the pressure P0. The pressure P1 is applied to chamber sponding decrease in the output pressure P. By reason of the consequently reduced flow through resistance I88 the pressure Po is then reduced toward its initial value. Without the provision of anything further it would be evident that the pressure Po would never be brought back exactly to its initial value by this proportional action alone. However, by the action of chamber I88 and I94 and the connecting resistance I92, the pressure Po is restored to its initial value. This occurs because by reason of the reduction of pressure P, there is a reduction of the pressure P2 between the resistances I82 and I84 and in the chamber I88. Flow of air accordingly takes place from the chamber I94 to the chamber I88 through the resistance I92 giving a floating action which continues until the pressure Po has been restored to its initial value and the nozzle pressure P1 is also at its initialvalue. Finally the pressures P2 and P3 are once again equal but at a lower value than that existing before the assumed change in resistance R.

The modification illustrated in Figure '7 is essentially identical with that involved in Figure 6 with the exception that the floating action is introduced into the first relay instead of the second. In Figure 7, the tube 282 and ball 284 provide a variable resistance as before, The supply line 283 supplies through fixed resistance 288 the nozzle 2I8 with which cooperates the lever 2I2 acting as a bafile and properly biased by the force exerted by the adjustable spring 2I4. A connection 224 joints the lower end of the tube 282 with a chamber 226 provided with a diaphragm 228 connected to the lever 2 I2. Below the diaphragm 228 is a second chamber 238 which is closed by a small diaphragm 23I also connected to the lever 2I2. The chamber 238 is connected to the nozzle 2) through the resistance 268.

This decrease acting in the chamber I62 resulting in a corre- The nozzle 2I8 is connected through tube 232 to a chamber 234 closed by a diaphragm 236 which acts upon the lever 238 biased by the adjustable force exerted by a spring 248 and arranged to actuate a valve 242 of the type previously described. The valve is supplied with air from line 286 through connection 244 and delivers air at controlled pressure to the line 246 and the pressure gauge 248. Resistances 258 and 252 in series vent the line 246 to the atmosphere. Connection 254 joins the junction of the resistances 258 and 252 to a chamber 256, the diaphragm 258 closing which is connected to the lever 238.

A chamber 262, closed by a large diaphragm 264 and a small diaphragm 1266 as illustrated, both of which are connected to the lever 2I2, communicates through passage 218 with the connection 232. The space 268 below the diaphragm 264 is vented to the atmosphere. Connection 274 through adjustable resistance 2T6 joins line 246 with tapered tube 282.

The action of the system of Figure '7 is, as stated, that of Figure 6 and need not be described in detail. A floating action exists at the upper relay due to the presence of the resistance 2%. To increase the time constant of this the volume of the chamber 238 may be increased by the addition of an air chamber 212 connected to it.

Additionally, there exists in this modification an amplification by reason of the effective area of the diaphragm closing chamber 226 in relation to the effective area of the diaphragms enclosing chamber 262 which area is the difference between the areas of diaphragms 264 and 268. This area amplification is desirable inasmuch as the drop of pressure across the ball 284 should be kept to the order of one inch of water. For practical purposes it is desirable to deliver an output pressure ranging up to fifteen pounds per square inch. Overall pressure am plification of the order of five hundred is required. Imperfections in pilot valve characteristics make it difiicult to achieve such a high amplification without serious nonlinearity, and consequently it is desirable to introduce part of the amplification in one of the relays by the use of the ratio of areas which can readily be made of the order of five. Thus the associated amplification by the arrangement of resistances need not be greater than about one hundred, an amplification which can be satisfactorily attained. It may be noted that such area amplification is also applicable to the modification shown in Figure 6.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a rotameter comprising a float arranged to assume a variable position corresponding to a rate of flow through the meter, said float being provided with a magnet, a tube of varying internal cross-section, a member of magnetic material within said tube and adapted to be carried by said magnet, thereby to assume within said tube positions corresponding to those of the float and offer varying resistance to fluid flow through the tube depending upon the float position, means providing a flow of fluid through said tube, and means for producing a pressure as a function of the resistance to flow appearing at the member, said pressure being in excess of the pressure drop across the member.

2. In combination, a rotameter comprising a float arranged to assume a variable position corresponding to a rate of flow through the meter,

said float being provided with a magnet, a tube of varying internal cross-section, a member of magnetic material within said tube and adapted to be carried by said magnet, thereby to assume within said tube positions corresponding to those of the float and offer varying resistance to fluid flow through the tube depending upon the float position, means providing a flow of fluid through said tube, and means for producing a pressure as a function of the resistance to flow appearing at the member, said pressure varying through a range substantially exceeding the range of pressure drop across the member.

3. In combination, a rotameter comprising a float arranged to assume a variable position corresponding to a rate of flow through the meter, said float being provided with a magnet, a tube of varying internal cross-section, a member of magnetic material within said tube and adapted to be carried by said magnet, thereby to assume within said tube positions corresponding to those of the float and offer varying resistance to fluid flow through the tube depending upon the float position, means providing a flow of fluid through said tube, and means for producing a pressure in excess of the pressure drop across said member which is a function of the resistance to flow appear-ing at the member.

4, In combination, a flow meter comprising a member displaceable in accordance with flow, said member being provided with a magnet, a tube of varying internal cross-section, an element of magnetic material within said tube and adapted to be carried by said magnet, thereby to assume within said tube positions corresponding to those of the member and offer varying resistance to fluid flow through the tube depending upon the position of the member, means providing a flow of fluid through said tube, and means for producing a pressure in excess of the pressure drop across said element which is a function of the resistance to flow appearing at the element.

10 5. In combination, a flow meter comprising a member displaceable in accordance with flow, said member being provided With a magnet, a tube of varying internal cross-section, an element of magnetic material within said tube and adapted to be carried by said magnet, thereby to assume within said tube positions corresponding to those of the member and offer varying resistance to fluid flow through the tube depending upon the position of the member, means providing a flow of fluid through said tube, and means for producing a'"pressure in excess of the pressure drop across said element which is a function of the resistance to flow appearing at the element, the last mentioned means comprising a resistance located so as to be subject to the same temperature variations as occur at said element.

WILLIAM MELAS.

WINFIELD B. HEINZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 648,054 Reisert Apr. 24, 1900 1,191,415 Gibson July 18, 1916 2,056,177 Erbguth Oct. 6, 1936 2,131,486 Spitzglass Sept. 27, 1938 2,260,516 Gerber Oct. 28, 1941 2,263,335 Heinz Nov. 18, 1941 2,311,853 Moore Feb. 23, 1943 2,351,745 Donaldson June 20, 1944 2,352,312 Donaldson June 27, 1944 2,354,423 Rosenberger July 25, 1944 2,380,399 Bowie July 31, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 455,065 Great Britain Oct. 13, 1936 

